Community News For The Manchester Edition

Scarecrow Festival

MANCHESTER — The Downtown Scarecrow Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Businesses, organizations and interested individuals are invited to create a family friendly scarecrow for display in downtown
Manchester
during the annual festival. The scarecrows will be on display from Oct. 13 through Oct. 27.

First, second and third place prizes will be awarded in both the People's Choice and Facebook Favorites categories. Approximately 30 to 35 scarecrows will be on display.

Scarecrow artists must register to participate. Scarecrows are to be installed by the artists in assigned locations between Oct. 10 and Oct. 13.

To obtain a registration form and contest guidelines, contact the Downtown Manchester Special Services District at dmssd@manchesterct.gov or 860-645-2101. Scarecrow registrations will be accepted until Oct. 3.

The Scarecrow Festival is sponsored by the Downtown Manchester Special Services District with support from Crimson Art Box. Pictured is Hawking, created by the Town of Manchester Information Systems Department.

Board Game Group

MANCHESTER — The Silk City Board Game Group for adults, hosted by the Manchester Public Library, will meet on Saturday, Sept. 15, from noon to 4:30 p.m., at 586 Main St.

Learn to play Century: Eastern Wonders; Feudum; Forbidden Sky; Rajas of the Ganges; and Fiasco Role Playing Game. The extensive game library will also be available and there is no need to bring games.;

No registration is required and there is no cost to attend. Free light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Jenn Bartlett at jbartlett@manchesterct.gov or 860-643-2471.

Adult Book Discussion

MANCHESTER — The Manchester Public Library, 586 Main St., will host its September meeting of the adult book club on Monday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. This month's selection is "Jurassic Park" by Michael Crichton.

No registration is required for this free event. Copies of the book are available for checkout at the main library. For more information, contact Jenn Bartlett at jbartlett@manchesterct.gov or 860-643-2471.

Book Talk

MANCHESTER — On Sunday, Sept. 16, at 1 p.m., the public is invited to hear author Janet Barret tell the story of Reckless, a pony who hauled ammunition up steep hills to the front lines for two years during the Korean War. The talk will take place at the Manchester Historical Society, 175 Pine St.

This real-life warhorse was courageous and indomitable and stood with her Marine Corps buddies, saving lives, raising spirits, and winning the love and respect of all who knew her. In skirmishes and firefights, Reckless showed bravery and resilience. In the Battle for Outpost Vegas, Reckless hauled ammunition for three days and nights. She was promoted to sergeant by the Commander of the Marine First Division, and soon thereafter sailed for San Francisco, a hero's welcome, and a new life.

Cost to attend is $3 for members; $5 for non-members and free admission for children under 16. Copies of the book, signed by the author, will be for sale at this event. Visit manchesterhistory.org for more information.

Emblem Club Meeting

MANCHESTER — Manchester Emblem Club #251 will be meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. at the Elks Lodge on Bissell Street.

Note the date change. The agenda includes planning the volunteer appreciation dinner and hearing about the Supreme Convention.

MANCHESTER — The following library events are offered by the Manchester Library system.

Pirate Party: Wednesday, Sept. 19, from 4 to 4:45 p.m. at Whiton Branch Library, 100 North Main St. Celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day with pirate activities including hook ring toss, a craft, stories, photo op and more. Call 860-643-6892 for more information.

Preschool Dance Party: Friday, Sept. 28, at 2 p.m. at Mary Cheney Library, 586 Main St. For walkers up to children age six, this is a time for caregivers and little ones to dance it out at the library. Call 860-645-0577 for more information.

Jazz Group Performs

ENFIELD-MANCHESTER — SFere will be performing on Sunday, Sept. 16, at the Enfield Shop Rite, 40 Hazard Ave., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sfere will also perform on Friday, Sept. 28, at the Kobe Asian Bistro, 1155 Tolland Turnpike, Manchester, from 6 to 9 p.m.

The pack is presently signing up new members and holding a join night on Monday, Sept. 17, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Email manchesterpack144@gmail.com for more information.

Constitution Day Lectures

MANCHESTER — Manchester Community College will hold a series of 80-minute lectures to celebrate the birth of the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution Day lecture series is free and open to the community.

MCC Professor Angelo Messore teaches political science and sponsors the series, which features speakers to discuss key components of the Constitution. The lectures are a yearly event at the college.

A lecture by Attorney Dan Barrett, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, will be held Tuesday, Sept. 18, in Great Path Academy (GPA) Community Commons from 12:30 to 1:50 p.m. Barrett focuses his advocacy efforts on privacy, racial profiling and police accountability, as well as on many other issues related to First Amendment rights. He will speak on "The U.S. Constitution and Civil Liberties."

On Thursday, Sept. 20, from 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise W. Merrill will speak on "The Constitution and the Right to Vote" in GPA Community Commons. Secretary Merrill has a long and distinguished record of public service, having been first elected Secretary of the State in 2010. Before that she served 17 years in the
Connecticut General Assembly
and was House majority leader from 2009 until she left the legislature for her current office.

The final lecture in the Constitution Day series will be held Monday, Sept. 24, from 9:30 to 10:50 a.m. in the SBM Charitable Foundation Auditorium with Enfield Police Chief Alaric J. Fox. Fox has also served with the Connecticut State Police and was deputy commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. His lecture is titled, "The Constitution as the Roots of Criminal Procedure."

The Art of Food: Come and enjoy food themed artwork made by local artists. Meets Wednesday, Oct. 17, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Tag Sale Seeking Items

MANCHESTER — The Manchester Land Trust Tag Sale is collecting items for its September tag sale, which will benefit the Manchester Land Conservation Trust and its work to preserve open space lands.

The trust is accepting donations at the cider barn, 330 Bush Hill Road, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays now through Sept. 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. There is a covered bin to the right of the barn with an open door for items to be placed inside.

For other drop-off times, contact Terry at 860-643-1823. The trust is accepting good, saleable items such as books, artwork, sports items, near-antiques, dishes and other household items. Not accepted are clothes, computers and TVs.

The tag sale will be held Sept. 21 to 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. Visit www.manchesterlandtrust.org for more information. Pictured are tag sale volunteers Len Parla (seated), David Feist and Terry Parla (standing).

Woodbridge Farmstead Seeking Volunteers

MANCHESTER — The Woodbridge Farmstead, part of the Manchester Historical Society, is seeking people who have the following skills and are willing to volunteer at the homestead: Quilting, embroidery, broom making, soap making and/or sewing. Call 860-647-9983 for more information.

Support Group Meets

MANCHESTER — The National Alliance on Mental Illness support group will hold its regular meeting on the third Thursday of every month. The meeting will be held at the Center Congregational Church, 11 Center St., from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The meeting is open to all families and friends of people with mental illness and focuses on sharing experiences and information. All information is held confidentially. For more information, contact Karen at dn.k.fedorchak@gmail.com or Sarah at 860-643-4377.

Woodbridge Barn Opens

MANCHESTER — The Manchester Historical Society announced a change in the timing for the free open houses of the restored eighteenth-century barn and the grounds of its Woodbridge farmstead.

The tours will take place from noon to 2 p.m. on the second and fourth Sundays of the month: Sept. 23; Oct. 14 and 28. The farmstead is located in Manchester Green, 495 East Middle Turnpike, near its intersection with Woodbridge Street.

The barn, located behind the house, was restored with funds from the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office, the SBM Charitable Foundation, and individual donors. Visitors can park at the municipal lot behind the Senior Center, and along the street that runs between the Senior Center and the farmstead itself. From the street, walk to the backyard using the grass driveway between the house and Woodbridge Pizza. The Woodbridge farmstead has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1999. The barn contains displays of farm tools and equipment. Visit www.manchesterhistory.org for more information.